Footwear rack

ABSTRACT

A footwear rack has at least one pan configured and sized for supporting a pair of footwear. The pan has a pair of hooks extending rearwardly therefrom and which are releasably attached to slotted hooking columns. The columns have a plurality of slots configured and sized for connecting with the hooks. The columns can be fixedly attached to a wall or to a mounting stand. The mounting stand is designed to be free standing by having a base from which perpendicularly extend the columns. The pan has a sloping surface for concentrating the water away from the footwear.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to shelves and racks but moreparticularly to a footwear rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is very inconvenient to have several pairs of wet boots or shoeslaying on the floor, so that is why several types of racks have beendeveloped over the years. Still, there is room for improvement inpracticality, cost, etc. . .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices nowpresent in the prior art, the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantageswhich are:

To provide for a footwear rack that is practical and cost effective.

In order to do so, the invention comprises a mounting stand including atleast two hooking columns, a top connector member adapted to hold the atleast two hooking columns parallel to one another, and a base memberadapted to hold the at least two hooking columns in a verticalorientation to a floor surface. The base member is formed as a panmember having four sides and a bottom portion that includes two surfaceareas, a first surface area being flat and adapted to be parallel to thefloor surface, and a second surface area that is formed at an angle tothe first surface area.

At least one pan member is adapted to be removably attached to two ofthe at least two hooking columns at a chosen distance from the basemember, the at least one pan member having four sides and a bottomportion that includes two surface areas, a first surface area being flatand adapted to be parallel to the floor surface, and a second surfacearea that is formed at an angle to the first surface area, such that thebase member and the at least one pan member are adapted to hold footwearupon each the second surface and allow the drainage and removal ofdebris and liquids from the footwear into the first surface areas foreasy removal.

The at least two hooking columns have a series of slots therein along alength thereon, and the at least one pan member has two hooks on a backportion thereof and spaced a distance to correlate to the space createdbetween respective slots of adjacent hooking columns, such that the atleast one pan member can be easily removably attached to two hookingcolumns at a chosen distance from the base member.

The rack has at least two pan members removably attached to the twohooking columns at different chosen distances from the base member.

The second surface area of the base member and the at least one panmember each include a plurality of raised elongated ridges thereonoriented in a direction facilitating the drainage and removal of debrisand liquids from the second surface areas into the first surface areasfor easy removal. The elongated ridges are orientated in a directionthat is perpendicular to the distance between the at least two hookingcolumns.

There are four hooking columns; and at least one pan member connectedbetween respective adjacent hooking columns.

The mounting stand and the at least one pan member are formed from amaterial chosen from a group of materials comprising aluminum, steel,plastic, fiberglass, and resins.

The rack has at least one mechanical fastener attached to a surface ofat least one of the at least two hooking columns that is adapted tosecurely hold the mounting stand to a vertical wall surface.

The slots and the hooks are formed in a rectangular shape adapted toallow the hooks to easily and removably fit within the slots and besecurely held therein.

The rack has the base member and the at least one pan member have athird surface area in between each the first surface area and each thesecond surface area, wherein the third surface area is formed at anangle to each the first surface area that is larger than the angleformed by each the second surface area, such that a retaining volume isformed between three of the four sides and the third surface area ofeach the pan member and the base member that is adapted to hold thedebris and liquids therein for a more secure and easy removal.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additionalfeatures of the invention that will be described hereinafter and whichwill form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Isometric view of the invention.

FIGS. 2 a-b Isometric view favoring the front and the rear of the pan.

FIGS. 3 a-b Isometric view and detail of the stand.

FIG. 4 Side view of the invention.

FIG. 5 Isometric view of two racks side by side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A footwear rack (10) has at least one pan member (12) configured andsized for supporting a pair of footwear (not shown). The pan member (12)has a pair of hooks (16) extending rearwardly therefrom and which arereleasably attached to slotted hooking columns (18).

The columns (18) have a plurality of slots (20) configured and sized forconnecting with the hooks (16).

The columns (18) can be fixedly attached to a wall (not shown) usingmechanical fasteners (19), or to a mounting stand (24). The mountingstand (24) is designed to be free standing by having a base member (26)from which perpendicularly extend the columns (18) which arefrictionally inserted thereto, and a connecting member (11) located atthe upper part of the mounting stand (24).

The pan member (12) has a first surface area (13), a second surface area(15), and a third surface area (19). The second surface area (13) of thebase member (26) and at least one pan member (12) each include aplurality of raised elongated ridges (17) thereon oriented in adirection that is preferably but not necessarily perpendicular to thedistance between the at least two hooking columns (18) so as tofacilitate the drainage and removal of debris and liquids from thesecond surface area (13)s into the first surface area (15) for easyremoval.

The pan member (12) can easily be removed from the columns (18) fordraining water and/or cleaning them. The footwear rack (10) is highlycustomizable by adding pan members (12) to each pair of columns (18) orby simply adding columns (18) side by side.

Preferably, the mounting stand (24), and pan members (12) are formedfrom a material chosen from a group of materials comprising aluminum,steel, plastic, fiberglass, and resins.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of thepresent invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. A rack for supporting footwear, comprising a mounting stand includingat least two hooking columns, a top connector member adapted to holdsaid at least two hooking columns parallel to one another, and a basemember adapted to hold said at least two hooking columns in a verticalorientation to a floor surface, wherein said base member is formed as apan member having four sides and a bottom portion that includes twosurface areas, a first surface area being flat and adapted to beparallel to said floor surface, and a second surface area that is formedat an angle to said first surface area; and at least one pan memberadapted to be removably attached to two of said at least two hookingcolumns at a chosen distance from said base member, said at least onepan member having four sides and a bottom portion that includes twosurface areas, a first surface area being flat and adapted to beparallel to said floor surface, and a second surface area that is formedat an angle to said first surface area, such that said base member andsaid at least one pan member are adapted to hold footwear upon each saidsecond surface and allow the drainage and removal of debris and liquidsfrom said footwear into said first surface areas for easy removal. 2.The rack of claim 1, wherein said at least two hooking columns have aseries of slots therein along a length thereon; and wherein said atleast one pan member has two hooks on a back portion thereof and spaceda distance to correlate to the space created between respective slots ofadjacent hooking columns, such that said at least one pan member can beeasily removably attached to two hooking columns at a chosen distancefrom said base member.
 3. The rack of claim 1, wherein there are atleast two pan members removably attached to said two hooking columns atdifferent chosen distances from said base member.
 4. The rack of claim1, wherein said second surface area of said base member and said atleast one pan member each include a plurality of raised elongated ridgesthereon oriented in a direction facilitating the drainage and removal ofdebris and liquids from said second surface areas into said firstsurface areas for easy removal.
 5. The rack of claim 4, wherein saidelongated ridges are orientated in a direction that is perpendicular tothe distance between said at least two hooking columns.
 6. The rack ofclaim 1, wherein there are four hooking columns; and at least one panmember connected between respective adjacent hooking columns.
 7. Therack of claim 1, wherein said mounting stand and said at least one panmember are formed from a material chosen from a group of materialscomprising aluminum, steel, plastic, fiberglass, and resins.
 8. The rackof claim 1, further comprising at least one mechanical fastener attachedto a surface of at least one of said at least two hooking columns thatis adapted to securely hold said mounting stand to a vertical wallsurface.
 9. The rack of claim 2, wherein said slots and said hooks areformed in a rectangular shape adapted to allow said hooks to easily andremovably fit within said slots and be securely held therein.
 10. Therack of claim 1, wherein said base member and said at least one panmember have a third surface area in between each said first surface areaand each said second surface area, wherein said third surface area isformed at an angle to each said first surface area that is larger thanthe angle formed by each said second surface area, such that a retainingvolume is formed between three of said four sides and said third surfacearea of each said pan member and said base member that is adapted tohold said debris and liquids therein for a more secure and easy removal.